Growth in human consumption is the transcending problem of our times. In the short span of 50 years, high income societies have shifted from an era when a 'simple life' was the norm to one where material consumption is pervasive. Consumption has become the engine for post-industrial societies. The liveability of cities in these societies is directly attributable to the consumption of resources – indirectly via their built environments and directly by their residents. This pattern of development is not sustainable. Nor is it equitable.

Urban Consumption is an important book, exploring the prospect for winding back current levels of household consumption in high income societies, and covering such critical areas as energy, water, food, housing and travel.

Explores the prospect for winding back current levels of household consumption

Covers such critical areas as energy, water, food, housing and travel

Represents the results of original research directed towards understanding the determinants of consumption

Consumption and environmental sustainability

Peter Newton

Consumption in context

Inside looking out: the global politics of Australia's population debates

David Ritter

The Ecological Footprint of consumption: spatial and sectoral context

Thomas Wiedmann, Richard Wood, John Barrett and Manfred Lenzen

Consumption and the environment: impacts from a system perspective

Graham M Turner

The elementary forms of the consumerist life: a sociological perspective

Peter Corrigan

Consumer sentiment and consumption

Chew Lian Chua and Edda Claus

The psychology of consumption

Michael Kyrios

Consuming online in Australia

Scott Ewing

Household consumption in an urban context

Australian household consumption and the slow burn of the environment

Terry Burke and Liss Ralston

Food consumption in Australia

Leonie J Pearson and Liss Ralston

Wasteful consumption

Richard Denniss and David Baker

Sustainable travel: mobility, lifestyle and practice

Stewart Barr and Jan Prillwitz

Consuming the urban environment: a study of the factors that influence resource use in an Australian city

"The book provides a good overview of the key demographic, economic and socio-cultural issues that have and are currently influencing and shaping the public debate about private household consumption." Roberto Colanzi, Australian Planner, 2013

Peter Newton is Research Professor in Sustainable Urbanism at the Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne. Prior to his move to Swinburne in 2007 he was Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.